Valve mechanism



Feb. 7, M950 E. E. LITTLEFIELD 2,496,553

VALVE MECHANISM Filed NOV. 18, 1942 2 Snets-Sheet l J0 J5 f6 14 JvVE/vroe.

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Fell 7 950 E. E. LITTLEFIELD 2,496,553

VALVE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 18, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fg. 4f.

bi( v Q Patented Feb. 7, A.1950

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE MECHANISM Edgar Earle Littlclield, Los Angeles, Calif. Application November 18, 1942, Serial No. 465,994

17 Claims. (Cl. 137-144) The invention relates to improvements in valves and control systems, and has particular reference to iluid pressure operated valves and valve systems.

The invention further relates to uid pressure operated valves suitable for controlling the supply and exhaust for a cylinder having a piston therein to be reciprocated and to drive a suitable element.

An object of the invention is to provide a common control for fluid pressure operated valves, as well as for valves of other types, controlling the supply and exhaust for a working piston.

The invention also relates to fluid pressure operated valves each having a pilot valve to control the operation thereof, and the invention has f or an object to provide a common electrical control for operating the pilot valves, in such manner that one of the main valves may remain closed while the other thereof is open.

Another object of the invention is to employ the pilotvalve principle for the double function of controlling the exhaust and the supply for the fluid pressure operated member of a power controlling cylinder.

Another object of the invention is toV provide a compact unitary assembly of main supply and exhaust valves and common actuating means therefor.

Another object is to improve the construction and operation of fast opening valves, slow closing valves, uid pressure operated valves and electrically operated valves.

For further details of the invention reference may be made to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a valve assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, with parts broken away, showing a modified form of pilot valve.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view with parts broken away of a further modication of a main valve.

Fig. 5 is a schematical circuit diagram illustrating one manner of using the valve assembly of Fig. 1.

Fig` 6 is a schematical wiring diagram that may be employed in the control of translating devices, including such as those described herein.

Referring in detail to the drawings, Fig. l illustrates a main exhaust valve I, a main supply valve 2, both of which are fluid pressure operated and which are assembled with S, common elec.-

trical actuating member in the form of a solenoid 3. The valves I and 2 and solenoid 3 are preferably mounted together to form a unitary structure.

. The exhaust valve I has an inlet 4 and an outlet 5 and therebetween a valve seat Ii having above it a valve head 1 which carries a piston 8 slidable in a chamber 9 formed in the cap III which is adjustably screw-threaded in the neck II as indicated at I2. The distance that cap I0 projects in neck II can be adjusted by means of washers II', and similar adjustment is possible with all other valve caps shown. The piston 8 has a comparatively small inlet passage I3 extending therethrough to admit fluid under pressure from inlet 4 behind the piston 8 to seat the valve 1 at certain times. The piston 8 also has axially therethrough a comparatively large drain passage I4, the upper end of which forms a seat for the pilot valve I5 carried by a stem I8 which slides in the passage I4 and which extends below the bottom of the valve head 1 as indicated at I1.

The valves I and 2 are physically mounted together by a tube I8 of nonmagnetic material, the upper end of which is secured by screw threads I9 in an opening 2li in the bottom 2| of the casing of valve I. The lower end of tube I8 yis connected by screw threads 22 in an opening 23 in the cap 24 of valve 2. An intermediate portion of tube I8 is sealed oil by a wall 25. The valve stem I6, for pilot valve I5, is actuated at times by a push rod 26 which is longitudinally adjustable by means of screw threads 21 in a threaded aperture 28 in an armature 29 of magnetic material.

' Armature 29 is in the form of an elongated cylinv drical rod, and has a sliding` fit in a tube 3,0 of

nonmagnetic material which is screw threaded inside of tube I8. An annular ange or shoulder on the lower end of armature Ziicontacts` the lower end of tube 3J limiting the upward travel of the armature, which is urged upwardly by a compression spring 32. A set screw 3l placed in any desired position would serve the same purpose, and this could also be used for locking the armature against operation if for any reason it is desired to do so. Around the tube I8 and extending between the bottom 2I of valve I and the cap 24 of valve 2 is a solenoid 3. When solenoid 3 is energized, the armature 29 is moved towards the center of solenoid 3, against the action of spring 32, thereby retracting the push-rod 26 and allowing the valve stem I6 to descend and the valve I5 to close.

The supply valve 2 has an inlet 33, an outlet 34 and therebetween a yvalve seat 35 for a main valve head 36 mounted on a screw-threaded stem 31 which has at its upper end a piston 38 slidable in the chamber 39 in the cap 24. The piston 38 has an axial drain-passage 48 therethrough, the upper end 4I of which serves as a valve seat for the pilot valve 42 preferably of magnetizable material, such as stainless iron. The pilot valve 42 is circular in cross section and is freely reciprocable in the casing 43, of non-magnetic material. Casing 43 is secured by screw threads 44 in a bore in the top of piston 38. The pilot valve 42 at itsupper end is provided with an adjustable abutment in the form of a screw 45, preferably of magnetizable material, against which bears a compression spring 46, the upper end of which bears against the top of pilot valve casing 43. The top of casing 43 has'a threaded breather hole 41, which may. if desired, be closed by a small screw. The casing 43 and the piston 38 and valve 36, all of which are arranged in operative relation, are urged in a downward direction by spring 48 between the underside of wall 25 and the top of a sliding armature 49 of magnetizable material, such as stainless iron, which rests on the top of casing 43, and which may, if desired, be provided with side openings at the bottom, for release of fluid. The side of casing 43 is provided with a port 50 so positioned that it will be uncovered when the valve 42 is raised against the action of spring 46, due to energization of solenoid 3. Adjustable mounting of casing 43 permits adjustments to be made in the position of the port 58. Piston 38 has an inlet passage 5I therethrough, somewhat smaller than drain 40, communicating with chamber 39. Port 50 may be of any desired dimensions and may, if desired, be employed to regulate flow of fluid from chamber 39. The space provided for piston 38 and valve head 36 may easilycbe such thata piston and valve arrangement, such as 8 and 1 of valve I, may be substituted therefor, if desired. In such case valve means 53 of Fig. 3 will be found a satisfactory means for controlling drain passage I4. i When' solenoid 3 is de-energizd, or when the device is disconnected from vthe supply and exhaust lines, as is the case in Fig. 1, the various parts are in the position shown in this figure. Assuming that the device is 'properly connected for use, solenoid 3, when energized, will cause the armature 29 and pilot valve 42 to move toward 4 built up in chamber 9 through passage I3, hence the valve 1 under these conditions will open. If desired, the inlet 33 may be provided with a pivoted knocker 52 actuated by inrush of fluid to strike the underside of piston 38 and help it to vreduced diameter, comes opposite the port 50 when the pilot-valve is in raised position, increasing the effectiveness of the valve.

In the modification in Fig. 4, the pilot valve 55 controls not only the axial drain passage 56. as before, but also the inlet passage 51 because the discharge end 58 thereof, as well as passage the Vcenter of solenoid 3. Movement of armature 29 downwardly retracts push-rod 26 and compresses spring 32 permitting pilot valve I 5 to close, whereby the pressure admitted through inlet passage I3 ,builds upv on top-of piston 8, causing it to closelvalve 1 or holding it closed, if it is already in the position shown inFig. 1. When pilot valve 42 moves upwardly it uncovers valve seat 4I and ,port 58, permitting the pressure on top of piston 38 to be relieved faster than it is built up through v the inlet passage 5I, whereby the vpressure on the vunder sldeoi' piston 38 overpowers the pressure onv the top thereof, and the valve 36 moves to open position.

De-energizing of the solenoid permits fluid pressure, admitted from inlet 33 through passage 5I to chamber 39, to accumulate above piston 38, thus closing valve 36. Pilot valve I 5, of upper valve I, has now assumed an open position under action of the compression spring 32. When fluid is exhausted from the cylinder under pressure, the pressure on the underside of piston `8 will be greater than on its top because pressure will escape through drain passage I4 faster than it is 56, communicate with chamber 84, which is in communication with the interior of the pilot valve casing 59. The shank of valve 55, being of a diameter which almost lls the inside of casing 59, the flow of iluid through passage 51, when the valve is closed, as restricted between the side of valve and inside of casing 59 in seeking an outlet through port to reach chamber 6I above piston 62.` When pilot valve 55 is in its raised position, its conical valve head 63 is withdrawn to a position above or adjacent port 60, so that the latter no longer restricts the discharge from chamber 6I through port 60 to drain passage 56. By thus controlling the iluid I provide the advantages of a quick opening and slow closing valve.

The flow through passage 51 may be adjusted by screw plug 51. Similar regulating means may be used in connection with the other valves, if desired. Washers and a threaded connection between the upper and lower part of piston 62 enable certain adjustments to be made when desirable. A threaded connection between the piston 62 and valve head 64 also makes certain adjustments possible, although the parts may be f made integral if desired. An adjustable connection also permits the main valve to be locked in closed position when it is desired to employ the drain passage only for control of fluid, as may be the case in the control of a low pressure gas. Or a nut maybe added to the threaded piston stem and tightened up on the port wall. A similar arrangement may be provided for the valve I, if desired.

Compression springs may, whendesirable, be inserted between the tops of the pistons, such as 8, Fig. 1, and the upper wall of the bonnets, for the purpose of urging the latter to their seats. In order to increase the effectiveness of the device and enlarge its scope of usefulness the parts in numerous casas are assembled in adjustable relation.

Fig. V5 illustrates a diagram of connections which may .be `employed foroperating a piston 65 in 'a cylinder 86,- althcugh other connections may be used. As here illustrated, the inlet side 4 of exhaust valve I and the outlet side 34 of the inlet valve 2 are connected by pipes 61 and 68, respectively, to the same end 69 of the cylinder 66, while the other end 10 of cylinder 66 is connected by pipes 1I and 12 in a similar manner to the inlet side 4' of exhaust valve I' and to the outlet side 34 of supply valve 2', respectively. With solenoid 3 de-energized, namely with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, referring now to Fig. 5, the end 69 of cylinder 86 can exhaust through pipe 81 and exhaust valve I, so that piston 65 is free to move to the left. If solenoid 3 is now energized, the exhaust valve I' is closed and the supply valve 2 is opened, thereby admitting pressure to the right side of piston 65 to urge it to the left. Piston 65 can, of course, be moved to the right by energizing solenoid 3 while leaving solenoid 3 de-energized.

A circuit arrangement which may be used for solenoid 3 is indicated in Fig. 6 wherein lines 13 and 14 lead to a suitable power supply. One side 14 is connected directly to solenoid 3, while the other side 13 is divided into branches 86 and 81. The branch 86 is connected through the switch 16 to the other end of 13 adjacent where it enters the solenoid; the other branch 81 is connected to an adjustable contact 16 on a resistance coil 11 surrounding the thermo-relay 80, thence through the primary 18 of a step-down transformer or impedance 85, beyond which it joins the line 13 leading to the solenoid 3. Ii' switch 15 is momentarily closed, with thermostat 19 in the position shown in Fig. 6 a comparatively large starting current is supplied to solenoid 3, through lines 1l, 13 and branches 86 and 81. Since branch 81 is normally in closed circuit relation with the current supply, the current will continue to flow through transformer winding 18 after switch 15 is opened, subject to control by secondary circuit 8I, which includes a normally closed circuit controlling element 82 for a bi-metallic strip 19. The secondary circuit 8l also includes an adjustable resistance or rheostat 83 by means of which the propen current may be provided for holding the armatures, such as 29, 42, 49 and 55 in their operated position, less'current being required to hold the armatures in operated position than is required to move them to this position. The contact 82 may be of the adjustable screw type. By reversing the bi-metallic element on the screw connection 89, or by otherwise employing an element that closes the circuit when heat is applied, the element may be employed fory delaying the closing of a valve, or for continuing the operation of any other device connectedfor operation in a similar manner, for a predetermined time. In this case the contact would be normally open, but when switch 15 is closed, the heat developed in the bi-metallic strip 19 will cause it to close the circuit and thus hold the valve open until contact 82 opens, when the tem perature of the bi-metallic member has dropped suiliciently.

In the rst case above, i. e., when the contact 82 is normally closed, the circuit will open after a certain temperature rise in the bi-metallic element, thus preventing overheating of the device, such as solenoid 3. The bi-metallic strip may be provided with a longitudinal slot for adjustable connection with screw connection 89 if desired.

By the above means, either separately or together. as may be, the opening or closing of contact 82 may be controlled according to a predetermined time limit. The adjustable contact 16 provides for control of the heat applied to the bimetallic member 19. The adjustable resistance or rheostat 83 may be employed either to limit the amount of current iiowing in the primary 18 or to -open the secondary circuit, as desired.

The above methods of control may be employed Detachably assembling the valves, as in Fig. 1, permits separation and independent employment of the same for controlling such fluids as water, refrigerants, gas, air, oil, etc.

Where the uid to be controlled by an individual valve, as for instance the valve shown in Fig. 4. is of insuilicient pressure to lift the main valve. after the pilot valve is unseated, as would probably obtain in some cases of lgas supply, the drain passage alone would be of sufficient capacity. Of course, the drain passages of any of the valves may be of any capacity requisite for the particular purpose.

The valve l, shown in the upper part of Fig. 1, could easily be of the type wherein a larger drain passage is controlled by a plurality of auxiliary valves such as are shown in my Patent 2,070,607, in which case the enlarged uted-upper end of push rod 26 would be omitted, to permit the same to telescope into the drain passage of the main valve shown in the patent. The guide 31, shown in the patent, could be used to cause an unseating of the smaller valve first.' Obviously it is not always necessary to employ piston rings with the pistons of the main valves.

This application contains subject matter common to my pending application S. N. 333,696, led May 6, 1940, now Patent Number 2.373.697.

In the drawings, like numerals refer to similar parts.

It will be apparent that any or all of the improvements herein disclosed for one of the valves can be employed in the others. Also the main valves can be used separately or in various combinations and in many ways other than as herein illustrated. Various other modiilcations may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Electrically operated valve mechanism comprising the combination of a pair of iluid pressure operated valves each having a piston with.

a passage therethrough; pilot valves for said passages; switching means movable to one position to open one of said pilot valves and close the other and movable to another position to reverse the operation of said pilot valves; electrical actuating means for said switching means.

2. The combination of uid pressure operated supply and exhaust main valves each having a pilot valve controlling operation thereof, means supporting said pilot valves for movement along a common axis, and common means supported along said axis operable vto move said pilotvalves lsimultaneously in opposite directions on said axis.

3. The combination of fluid pressure operated supply and exhaust main valves each having a pilot Valve controlling operation thereof, and movable at times toward a common point; yieldable means tending to maintain said pilot valves at a spaced distance from each other; and electrical means for overcoming said yieldable means.

4. A valve assembly comprising valve housings, a spacer connecting the housings, a valve in each housing controlling flow therethrough. a uid pressure motor for each valve, a pilot valve for each motor, magnetic armatures one for each pilot valve adjacent the spacer, a solenoid surrounding the spacer and armatures, whereby energizing the solenoid effects actuation of the armatures and pilot valves and thereby controls the motors.

5. A valve mechanism comprising valve housings, a tubular spacer connecting the housings,

a valve within each housing controlling flow therethrough, a fluid pressure motor for each valve, a pilot valve for each motor, magnetic armatures one for each pilot valve within the tubular spacer, a solenoid surrounding the spacer and armatures, whereby upon the solenoid being energized it eilects actuation of the armatures and pilot valves and thereby controls the motors.

6. A valve assembly comprising valve housings, a tubular nonmagnetic spacer connecting the housings, a valve within each housing controlling flow therethrough, a fluid pressure motor for each valve, a pilot valve for each motor, mag-- netic armatures one for each pilot valve within the nonmagnetic spacer, a solenoid surrounding the spacer and armatures, whereby energization of the solenoid actuates the armatures and thereby controls the motors.

7. A valve assembly comprising, valve housings, a spacer between the housings, a valve within each housing controlling iiow therethrough, a motor for each valve, a control for each motor, a magnetic armature for each control, and an electro-magnetic solenoid surrounding the armatures, whereby energizing of the solenoid may eiect actuation of the motor controls.

8. A valve assembly comprising, two valve housings, a spacer between the housings, a valve within each housing for controlling ilow therethrough, a motor for each valve, a control for each motor, a magnetic armature for each control, the armatures being movable toward and from each other, and an electro-magnetic solenoid surrounding the armatures for simultaneously drawing the armatures toward each other, and sprin-g means for moving the armatures apart, whereby the solenoid when energized effects actuation of the motor controls in one direction and the spring means effects their movement in the other direction.

9. A valve mechanism comprising, two valve housings, a spacer between the housings, a valve in each housing for controlling flow therethrough, a fluid pressure motor for each valve, a pilot valve for each motor, a magnetic armature for each pilot valve movable toward and from each other, an electro-magnetic solenoid surrounding the armatures for simultaneously drawing thel armatures toward each other, and spring means for moving the armatures apart, whereby the energizing of the solenoid effects actuation of the pilot valves in one direction and the spring means effects their operation in the reverse direction.

10. A valve structure comprising, two valve chambers each having a supply and a discharge opening therein and a valve port therebetween, a valve for the port of each valve chamber, a fluid pressure motor responsive to the pressure condition of the chamber for the valve of each motor, a pilot valve for each fluid pressure motor one pilot valve being arranged to cause its motor to open its main valve while the other motor is arranged to cause its motor to close its valve, a spacing means between and connecting the valve chambers, two armatures Within the spacing means one attached to one of the two pilot valves and the other to the other one, and an actuating coil or solenoid'surrounding the spacing means and solenoid, whereby as the solenoid draws the armatures toward each other the pilot valves of the respective motors will be operated.

1l. An electrically controlled valve structure including a normally open valve, an auxiliary valve controlling the normally open valve, a normally closed valve, a second auxiliary valve for controlling the normally closed valve, two armatures one for actuating each of the two auxiliary valves, and a single electromagnetic coil common to the armatures of the two electromagnetically controlled auxiliary valves.

12. An electro-magnetically controlled valve structure including a normally open main valve, a second normally closed main valve, two auxiliary valves one for controlling each of the two main valves, two armatures one for operating each of the two auxiliary valves, a tubular core connecting the two main valves so as to hold them in xed relation to each other, a single electromagnetic coil surrounding the tubular core for drawing the two armatures within the tubular core so as to operate the two auxiliary valves.

13. A valve structure including; a iiuid chamber having a port provided with a valve seat; an inlet passage for said chamber and an outlet passage from said port, said chamber being so formed that iluid communication between said passages may be established only through said port; a second fluid chamber having a port provided with a valve seat; an inlet passage for the second fluid chamber and an outlet passage from the second port, the second chamber being so formed that fluid communication between the inlet passage and the outlet passage from the port may be established only through the second port; closures for said seats; magnetizable controlling means for said closures, each closure having a normal position and another position which it assumes upon energization of said magnetizable controlling means, means for returning each closure to its normal position upon each de-energization of the magnetizable controlling means; electrical energizing means common to the magnetizable controlling means, the former and the latter co-operating, when energized, to

cause each closure to assume a predetermined one of said positions substantially simultaneously.

14. A valve structure including; a iiuid chamber having a port provided with a valve seat; closure means for said seat; electrically actuated means including an armature coacting with said closure means by lost motion action; a second iiuid chamber having a port provided with a valve seat; closure means for the seat of the second port; electrically actuated means including an armature aligned with the first-mentioned armature for the second closure means; electrical controlling means axially aligned with said armature for the electrically actuated means of both closure means.

15. A valve structure including; a fluid chamber having a port provided with a valve seat; an inlet passage for said chamber and an outlet passage from said port, the chamber being so formed that fluid communication between said passages may be established only through said port; a closure for said seat; a second fluid chamber adjacent the. first having a port provided with a valve seat; an inlet passage for the second iluid chamber and an outlet passage from the second port, the second chamber being so formed that fluid communication between the inlet passage and the outlet passage from the port may be established only through the second port; a closure for the second seat; magnetizable controlling means for said closures, said means cooperating with said closures to provide substantially simultaneous operation thereof;

and electrical energizing means common to said magnetizable controlling means for energizing the same.

16. A valve structure includingr a plurality ol adjacent fluid chambers; ports for said chambers; inlet passages for the chambers and outlet passages from the ports; seats for the ports, each fluid chamber and its associated parts being so formed that iluid communication between the passages may be established only by means of the port; valves for said seats; magnetizable controlling,y means for each valve, so designed and arranged that, when energized, each controlling means functions independently to cause substantiallj simultaneous operation of the valves; and electrical means common to the magnetizable controlling means of each valve for energizing the same.

17. A valve structure including a housing having a chamber `with a port provided with a seat; an inlet passage for said housing and an outlet passage from said port, the housing and chamber being so formed that uid communication between said passages may be established only by means of the port; closure means for said seat; magnetizable controlling means coperating with said closure means by lost' motion action; a second housing adjacent the rst housing having a chamber with a port provided with a seat; an inlet passage for the second housing and an outlet passage from the second port, the second housing and chamber being so formed that uid communication between said passages may be established only by means of the second 10 port; closure means for the second seat; magnetizable controlling means for the second closure means; and electrical means common to the magnetizable controlling means of both closure means for energizing the saine.

EDGAR EARLE LI'FILEFIELD.

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